BR and Market Forces

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[quote author=Hafner32 link=topic=50674.msg197157#msg197157 date=1596656613]
Ditto, although I would have smoked the shit out of those ‘10 PSD4s
[/quote]

EXACTLY...those were going to be for immediate consumption...lol

[Seegar3]

I just returned to cigar smoking last year after a 12 or 13 year hiatus.

To say the least, all of this stuff is totally mind blowing to me now !!

Back in the middle to late nineties, I fell into a pretty awesome scenario.
I happened to meet a gentleman on the NET from the southern part of the U.K. who had formed a small cigar smoking club that met on Thursday nights.
At first both of our curiosities were directed at the cigars we were smoking, mine being Cuban and his our domestics, with a keen interest on Fuente products and especially OpusX.

So, we initially instituted a few trades with both sides being happy to try a different variety of cigars. Also, his friends in the club loved smoking something new to them.
Eventually, over the next few years, it got pretty crazy as we were sending packages back and forth containing upwards of 10 to 12 boxes of cigars. My wife was always freaking out thinking one day there would be a knock at the door from custom agents.......lol!

Also at the time, some old retirees who saw me frequent the Holts Cigar Store lounge quite often, hooked me up with a cigar store in Switzerland. They also taught me the procedure to buy the cigars there when the dollar was much stronger than the Swiss Franc. Thus, producing a nice savings on a box you might want to procure.
Basically, all of the cigars back then, I sold as fivers or ten packs at cost and basically just wanted to pass along the enjoyment and curiosity of Cuban cigars. I also gifted a lot to people at different online cigar events, and herfs.

So, fast forward to last year and returning to enjoying cigars again.
My mind was totally blown at the prices and discontinuation of some of my old favorites. One being a box of Romeo y Julietta - Celestiales Fino. If a box is indeed available today, it would be untouchable for me probably due to the asking price.
I felt like an astronaut who had just returned from a 12 year space journey.....rotflmao !!!

So, all and all, if there is a demand, people will probably pay the price.

As for me now, I come on here and surf. Then make an occasional purchase to satisfy my addiction of Cuban cigars.......lol!!!

Oh, if anyone here comes across a box of Romeo y Julietta - Celestiales Fino and I could afford them at a decent price, it would make my day......lol

[Pole Lock]

I checked BR a couple times when it first started up, but the prices were even nuttier than I thought they'd be, so I lost interest.  Definitely the latest in concerning trends regarding the affordability of Havana cigars.  On one hand, I can't begrudge the guy for trying to squeeze more money out of his business, but on the other, it will only drive prices everywhere higher, discouraging current customers or sending them packing to the land of NC (the horror!).  I was shocked to see Ravi even removed his Vintage section - can only assume he's got it all up on BR for even crazier dollars.

Fortunately, a combination of curiosity and discouragement from HSA deleting so many classic sticks made me buy a couple pipes and pipe tobacco.  Now it's almost all I smoke - I've had probably 4 cigars since the beginning of May.  Pipe tobacco is so much cheaper, whether measured by weight or by smoking session.  It's a whole other world of tobacco strains, processing, fermentation and flavors.  Took a minute to figure it all out, but I'm hooked.

[Riverstyx]

July 22, 2018 a box of 2010 JL No 4 Regionals: $389 on FoH.  Yesterday, more than twice that price:$824.

[perfectoman]

Us poor folk gonna have to learn how to roll our own.  Not like I haven't ever done that before!
:smiley-cool:

[Yellot00tr]

Conde 109 went off for $3000. Wow.  Add in those fees and it's a winner.

[ChefBoyRG54]

define: missed opportunity

Could be selling shitty cigars that garner extraordinary pricing on BR and turning around to buy 3-4x boxes of good cigars.

[FireDigger]

About two months ago, I sold a box of Partagas Salomones from 2009 for $325. Just recently, a box with the exact same code sold for $705 hammer price on BR, just crazy. Don't worry, the box sold was not the one I sold as the serial numbers were different. :)

[DBNInc]

[quote author=FireDigger link=topic=50674.msg197261#msg197261 date=1597090507]
About two months ago, I sold a box of Partagas Salomones from 2009 for $325. Just recently, a box with the exact same code sold for $705 hammer price on BR, just crazy. Don't worry, the box sold was not the one I sold as the serial numbers were different. :)
[/quote]
Even if it was the box you sold, what would it matter?  Its the new owner’s to do with as they please, no?

[FireDigger]

[quote author=DBNInc link=topic=50674.msg197273#msg197273 date=1597129068]
Even if it was the box you sold, what would it matter?  Its the new owner’s to do with as they please, no?
[/quote]

You're right, shouldn't matter. I guess it affected me a bit since it made me second guess my decision of listing here versus putting mine on BR. However, I'm at peace now since I think I offered a fair price for myself and the buyer.